Background and History of the Ike Dollar

In 1969 the United States beat the Russians to the moon with Neil Armstrong and "Buzz" Aldrin being the first humans to leave their footprints there. The United States wanted to honor this accomplishment on a coin. Unfortunately, the cent, nickel, dime, quarter and half dollar, for one reason or another, were off-limits for a redesign. Therefore, the United States Treasury Department decided to revive the dollar coin that had not been minted since 1935.

The new one dollar coin would be the same diameter and approximately the same thickness as previous minted silver dollars, but the composition would be a copper-nickel clad base metal composition that is dictated by the Coinage Act of July 23, 1965. Mint engraver Frank Gasparro represented this historic event on the reverse by adapting the Apollo XI insignia from NASA. It was President Dwight D. "Ike" Eisenhower who authorized the creation of NASA in 1958. Because of his involvement with NASA, the Treasury Department chose Eisenhower for the obverse of the coin.

In 1973, the Treasury Department began a contest to select the design to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the American Revolutionary War on the quarter, half dollar and one dollar coins. The Treasury Department chose Dennis R. Williams' reverse design on March 6, 1974, that superimposes the Liberty Bell on top of the moon for the reverse of the dollar coin.

The United States Mint did not make any dollar coins dated 1975 since the production of the dual-dated (1776-1976) bicentennial coinage began in 1975 to meet the public's demand for these new circulating commemorative coins.

Coin Values and Prices

At one time, coin collectors frowned upon collecting Eisenhower dollars.

The coins never circulated well with the public, the design was drab, and the coins never struck up well. Beginning in the mid-to-late 2000's, the popularity of collecting the last of the big United States dollars began to catch on. Coin experts began to find varieties, and the values for Eisenhower dollars began to rise.

Eagle holding an olive branch, landing on the moon, with the earth in the background with 13 stars in the field. The inscription E PLURIBUS UNUM above. The inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ONE DOLLAR at the border.

Reverse Designer

Frank Gasparro

(Krause-Mishler Catalog No.)

Clad: 203Silver: 203a

Bicentennial Obverse and Reverse (1976)

Obverse Description

President Dwight Eisenhower facing left, with LIBERTY above and IN GOD WE TRUST to the lower left and the dual date 1776-1976 at the bottom.

Obverse Designer

Frank Gasparro

Reverse Description

Liberty Bell superimposed in front of the moon. The motto E PLURIBUS UNUM appears to the lower right. The inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and ONE DOLLAR separated by two stars surrounds.

Reverse Designer

Dennis R. Williams

KM# (Krause-Mishler Catalog No.)

Clad: 206Silver: 206a

Notes

No coins dated 1975 were minted. Minting of the Bicentennial coins began in 1975 and continued throughout 1976. They have the dual date of "1776-1976".

Production Years, Mints and Types

The United States Mint Produced the Eisenhower dollar from 1971 until 1978 when the Treasury Department replaced it with the Susan B. Anthony dollar. You can learn about years, strike type, mint facility where struck, the mint mark used on the coin and a description of any type differences in coins minted for that year.

Year

Mint

Mint Mark

Type

1971

Philadelphia

Clad

1971

Denver

D

Clad

1971

San Francisco

S

Silver

1971 Proof

San Francisco

S

Silver

1972

Philadelphia

Clad Type I(Low Relief)

1972

Philadelphia

Clad Type II(High Relief)

1972

Philadelphia

Clad Type III(Modified High Relief)

1972

Denver

D

Clad

1972

San Francisco

S

Silver

1972 Proof

San Francisco

S

Silver

1973

Philadelphia

Clad

1973

Denver

D

Clad

1973

San Francisco

S

Silver

1973 Proof

San Francisco

S

Clad

1973 Proof

San Francisco

S

Silver

1974

Philadelphia

Clad

1974

Denver

D

Clad

1974

San Francisco

S

Silver

1974 Proof

San Francisco

S

Clad

1974 Proof

San Francisco

S

Silver

Year

Mint

Mint Mark

Type

1976

Philadelphia

Bicentennial; Clad Type 1(Thick letters reverse)

1976

Philadelphia

Bicentennial; Clad Type 2(Thin letters reverse)

1976

Denver

D

Bicentennial; Clad Type 1(Thick letters reverse)

1976

Denver

D

Bicentennial; Clad Type 2(Thin letters reverse)

1976

San Francisco

S

Bicentennial; Silver

1976 Proof

San Francisco

S

Bicentennial; Clad Type 1(Thick letters reverse)

1976 Proof

San Francisco

S

Bicentennial; Clad Type 2(Thin letters reverse)

1976 Proof

San Francisco

S

Bicentennial; Silver

1977

Philadelphia

Clad

1977

Denver

D

Clad

1977 Proof

San Francisco

S

Clad

1978

Philadelphia

Clad

1978

Denver

D

Clad

1978 Proof

San Francisco

S

Clad

Errors and Varieties

The following are popular errors and varieties that Eisenhower Dollar collectors look for. These coins usually carry a premium and are valued above a common coin.